Marlise Santos

Patient Safety and Quality Improvement

Patient Engagement

Public Health

Epidemiology

Advanced Techniques in Vessel Wall Imaging

Neurovascular Anatomy

Head and Neck Diseases

Long-term Outcome in the Endovascular Treatment of Vascular Lesions

COVID-19

2025- Recognition, The Ottawa Hospital's Department of Patient Relations: "(...) Our family are so very grateful for the exceptional care, service, and clinical expertise from the many health care members involved in her care. I wanted to take a moment to say THANK YOU for everything they have done.  TOH's vision of exceptional service and compassionate care that we would want for our loved ones was exactly the care that my Mom received.  The teams here at TOH should be so very proud of the service they provide to their patients every day.  It was a privilege to observe this from "the other side of the curtain".  We particularly wanted to recognize the following individuals:  Dr. Lipinski (ED), RN Tori from the ED, Dr. Chhabra (ED), Dr. Kobewka (GIM) and the residents on his medicine team, Dr. Thabet (GIM), Dr. Warman (neuro), Dr. Santos (neurorad), and OMTU RNs Jihii and Chloe."

2025- Recognition, The Ottawa Hospital's Department of Patient Relations: "For the past two plus years, Dr. Santos has overseen my care (...). From the onset. Dr. Santos has been knowledgeable, informative, caring and has delivered care that exceeds expectations. In my experience as a healthcare professional as well as a patient, most physicians tend to embody a rather distant, clinical mannerism. I have had physicians who are quick and dismissive and as a patient, this is not comforting nor appropriate. Despite the shortage of healthcare staff and physicians, I expect to be treated with dignity, care and respect. That being said, I have received marvelous care from Dr. Santos that far exceeded my expectations. Dr. Santos is the embodiment of what I, and most patients, expect of a physician who is bound to their Hippocratic oath. (...) She has spent time to explain my care, provide follow-ups and provide comfort and clarification. She is not dismissive nor proverbially ‘quick to move onto the next patient’. (...) She takes her time to provide holistic care. Health is not only determined by the ailment being treated and its subsequent symptoms, but the overall condition of the patient-physically, mentally and spiritually. It is the extra few minutes that Dr. Santos provides that allow for holistic care to be achieved. (...) She cares about me and my health and is a world-class physician."

2024- Recognition, TOH Switchboard Team Lead: "Doctor Santos, Thank you for being such a wonderful person. Your unwavering kindness every single time you communicate with our team has not gone unnoticed and inspires us all. Your integrity is reflected in your interactions with all our agents."

2024- Recognition, Patient feedback: "How do I actually give a heartfelt apreciation to someone who saved my life+restored my future. I will forever be thankful to you for rescuing me + giving me back to my family in my hours of need. I thank god for you dedicating your life to such an amazing field of surgery."

2024 - Recognition, The Ottawa Hospital's Department of Patient Relations: "I had the privilege of consulting with Dr. Marlise dos Santos at Civic Hospital. I am deeply appreciative of Dr. dos Santos' exceptional hospitality and expertise during my appointment. She is truly the most remarkable physician I've encountered. In addition to her compassionate demeanor, Dr. dos Santos excels as a communicator, patiently elucidating my condition and presenting various avenues for its management. Her profound knowledge is evident in her articulate explanations, both in layman's terms and through detailed descriptions. Following my consultation, I departed with a comprehensive understanding of my situation, grateful for the thorough care and attention provided by such a distinguished specialist in her field. If only every medical encounter could emulate the standard set by Dr. dos Santos, it would undoubtedly reduce the need for frequent hospital visits in the long term. I am forever indebted to Dr. dos Santos and consider it a privilege to have been under her care."

2023 - Recognition, The Ottawa Hospital's Department of Patient Relations: "(...)After a stroke, I had a stent installed by (...) the capable and competent Dr Santos. (...) my life threatening situation was transformed into a pleasant experience, considering the circumstances. (...) With all the negatives one hears about the health care system, the treatment I received has been a positive surprise, especially the care and follow up provided by your staff."

2023 - Award, Neuroradiology Staff Teacher of the Year 2022-2023 - Department of Radiology, Radiation Oncology and Medical Physics, University of Ottawa. 

2022 - Gratitude Award, The Ottawa Hospital, January 2022, "Being in pain with no clear source or path to relief is a scary place to be. Dr. Santos saw my fear and provided patient-centred care that cleared the cloud of dread hanging over me and gives me hope for a better outcome." 

2021 - Runner-up, Best Radiology Resident Research Award (project supervisor for Dr. Shenghua Zhu - PGY-2 Radiology) -  31st Annual University of Ottawa / 5th Annual Dr. Cheemun Lum Radiology Research Day.

2021 - The Ottawa Hospital Long Service Award, 15 years of service. 

2021 Jul - Chairs’ Select Oral Presentation, Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation Congress - “Time Metrics and Clinical Outcomes of Thrombectomy in Acute Stroke Patients Before and After Implementation of COVID-19 Infection Protocols in Nine Canadian Stroke Centres”, from the Pandemics Impact in Stroke EVT Study Group: Shenghua Zhu Vered Tsehmaister-Abitbul, Grant Stotts, Robert Fahed, Hailey Pettem, Richard Aviv, Ronit Agid, Aleksandra Pikula, Jai Jai Shiva Shankar, Genevieve Milot, Lissa Peeling, Donatella Tampieri, Sachin Pandey, Leandro Leite, Luciana Catanese, Brian Van Adel, Samuel Yip, Fabio Settecase (Co-P.I.), and Marlise P. dos Santos (Senior Author, Co-P.I.)

2016 Feb  - Patient Donation, Priority Needs Fund of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation in honor of Dr. Marlise Santos - “In celebration of my five-year anniversary since my operation. With many thanks”. 

2015 Apr - Recognition from Mr. Guy Morency, Director, Medical Imaging and Laboratory Medicine - “In rounding with Paul Healey (Medical Imaging Manager), I want you to thank you in making our technologists feel like they are part of a team. More importantly, I want to thank you for caring.”.

2014 - Guardian Angel Award, The Ottawa Hospital, November 2014.

2014 - The Ottawa Hospital’s Patient Safety Star Award.

2014 - Nomination, Distinguished Mentor Award by an OttawaU Medical Student.

2013 - Guardian Angel Award, The Ottawa Hospital, December 2013.

2013 - TOHAMO Board Grant to support attendance at a 2014 Canadian Medical Association Physician Management Institute (PMI) course.

2013 - Guardian Angel Award, The Ottawa Hospital, March 2013.

2012 - Award, Best Radiology Teacher for the University of Ottawa Medical School Undergraduates, Academic year 2011-2012.

2010 - International Visiting Professor, Hospital Moinhos de Vento, Departments of Neurology and Neuroradiology, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Dec 14, 2010.

2010 - American Roentgen Ray Society 110th Annual Meeting Electronic Exhibit Certificate of Merit, American Roentgen Ray Society, Electronic Exhibit: Comparison between CT Angiography (3D-CTA) and Digital Subtraction in Follow up of Post Clipped Cerebral Aneurysms, Richard, K., Chakraborty, S., Glikstein, R., dos Santos, M.P. San Diego, California, USA.

2010 - Summer Studentship Poster Day, 2nd Place Award, Basic and Clinical Projects, The Ottawa Hospital/University of Ottawa, Heparin dosing is associated with DWI lesion load following aneurysm coiling. Lim Fat, M.J., Lum, C., Bussière, M., dos Santos, M.P., Lesiuk, H. Ottawa, ON, Canada.

2009 Nov - RSNA Selection to Submit Manuscript to RadioGraphics. Electronic Scientific Exhibition & Scientific Oral Presentation. RSNA 2009, Chicago, IL, USA. Zhang, J.*, dos Santos, M.P., Agid, R., Tampieri, D., terBrugge, K.G. Imaging Diagnosis and the Role of Endovascular Embolization Treatment for Intradural Spinal Vascular Tumors. Senior & Corresponding Author.

1997 - Valedictorian, Medical School, University of Caxias do Sul. Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

1996 - Valedictorian Award, Yazigi International English Language School, Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. 

2015 - date - active Investigator of multiple endovascular neurosurgery clinical trials including: EMMA, ENDOLO, CURES, TATAM, TOBAS, SWAN, EVOLVE, STAT, FIAT, ESCAPE. 

2013 - date - Hospital length-of-stay after endovascular treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms: a retrospective study. Co-Investigator.

2013 - date - Does endovascular coiling of posterior communication artery aneurysms result in increased frequency of occipital lobe strokes? Co-Investigator.

2010 - date - CAIN-1: natural history study of Carotid atherosclerosis followed by 3T MR. CHIR Grant funded nation-wide study. Principal Investigator.

2011 - date - Time-Resolved Angiography in Cerebrovascular Shunts (TRACS) - The role of 4D-CTA in the assessment of non-invasive diagnostics of intracranial arteriovenous shunting lesions, The Netherlands. Principal Investigator in Ottawa.

2013 - date - Multi-Detector CT Angiography for Detection and Quantification of Orbital Arteries in Comparison with Digital Subtraction of Angiography: A Retrospective Review. Co-Investigator.

2011 - date - Evaluation of Volume Subtraction CTA in the Follow up of Post Clipped Cerebral Aneurysms. CHAR Grant funded. Co-Investigator.

2009 - date - Long-Term Angiographic Recurrences and Complications after Selective Endovascular Treatment of Aneurysms with Coils. Principal Investigator.

2009 - date - Clinical and Angiographic Outcomes of Stent-assisted Coiling of Intracranial Aneurysms. Principal Investigator.

2009 - 2013 - PRET I and II - Patients Prone to Recurrence after Endovascular Treatment, Industry-funded International RCT. Principal Investigator in Ottawa.

2009 - date - Factors Determining Periprocedural and Long-term Complications of Carotid Artery Stenting in High Risk Patients. Principal Investigator.

2008 - date - Stenting for refractory idiopathic intracranial hypertension associated with venous sinus stenosis. Co-investigator.

2008 - 2013 - Endovascular coiling of posterior communicating artery aneurysms: is preservation of the PCOM necessary? Co-investigator.

2008 - 2012 - PREDICT (Predicting hematoma growth and outcome in intracerebral hemorrhage using contrast bolus CT Study).  International study. Co-investigator.

2007-2012 - IMS-III – International Management of Stroke Trial, phase III, randomized, multi-center, open label. Co-investigator.

2007 - 2011 - Understanding Wait Lists for MRI: Triaging of Priority. Co-investigator.

2007 - 2009 - Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy vs. Stenting Trial (CREST), Industry-funded International Multi-Center RCT. Co-investigator.

2012 - date - Reviewer for Interventional Neuroradiology.

2013 - date - Reviewer for the Canadian Medical Association Journal

2011 - date - Reviewer for the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery

2009 - date - Reviewer for Stroke

2008 - date - Reviewer for the Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences